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Blending Techniques and Tips - Beginners (Patreon)

Published:
2022-06-02 02:38:12
Edited:
2022-06-02 02:39:55
Imported:
2026-10
Tags:

Content

Hi everyone,

Here's a video about painting soft blends that I made recently for beginners. I posted it on my YouTube channel over the weekend. I'm posting it here for you without ads and I've also attached the reference photo of the lemon and a photo of the examples I painted. 

I'll put this video on the indexes so that it's easy to find when you need it. 

Louise

💕🍋

_____________________

Tutorial Index Links to bookmark:

Website index with linked images: http://www.louisedemasi.com/new-index

Clickable Word index: https://www.patreon.com/posts/34865676

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Files

Blending paint for Patreon

Louise De Masi©

Comments

Melanie Newberry

My comment has nothing to do with the tutorial. I just wanted to say you look beautiful in yellow.

Anne Watman

I was watching this video on YouTube, and one of the things I find difficult is the wet paint wanting to “outline” the edges. In your first circle you wet the paper but not all the way to the edge, and I believe you said it was to avoid this problem. However, when you went back with the shadow color, you went right to the edge. It was the same when you painted wet on dry, you seemed to have a pretty wet first layer, and then you dropped in more wet paint for the shadow. I’m guessing the dark edges have to do with water vs paint ratio? Also, even though I understand a lot of the things you are teaching beginners, and I’ve been working at watercolor for awhile, I really appreciate the opportunity to practice the basics.

Louise De Masi

Hi Anne, sometimes you may want a dark edge. If I'm painting something and I want darker colour to bleed in from the edge I'll wet it all the way to the edge. If I want to avoid dark edges where the pigment accumulates I'll try to remember to not wet the paper all the way to the edge of what it is I'm painting. Those unsightly dark edges where the paint accumulates happens when you may have too much water on the paper or in your brush. It pushes the pigment out to the edges creating an untidy line.

Anne Watman

I plan on practicing this afternoon, and so happy that you emphasized that. I’ve been very frustrated with watercolor recently because sometimes my paintings turn out really well, but other times they’re horrible. I keep feeling as though I should be moving on from “beginner,” and I have learned a lot about working with watercolor. I’ve tried a number of online courses, and I don’t think any of them emphasize or demonstrate the skills your teaching, in the same way. I’ve been so frustrated lately, I’ve wondered if I got myself into the wrong medium or if I’m just not good enough. But, then I saw one of your videos that talked about that, and it gave me hope. Thank you. ❤️ BTW, I’ve done quite a bit of acrylic painting, and I’m actually good at it, but it doesn’t give me the same thrill as watercolor.

Anne Watman

Paper makes such a difference. I tried the first circle, using wet on wet, and I was really disappointed. My edges kept drying out. I was using Dick Blick 100% cotton 140 lb. block. I did all of the circles, and the others weren’t quite as bad, but I still had some problems with drying time. As it turns out, I also have a block of Baohong, The Master’s Choice, and it was much better! It’s a small success, but really encouraging!

Louise De Masi

Thanks Anne. I agree with you about painting in acrylic. I feel the same way. It's just not as enjoyable to use as watercolour. With watercolour- just be patient with yourself. I've been using it since 2011 and I'm still learning. It challenges me with every painting I do. It's a lifelong journey so it's a good thing it's so much fun to use.

Louise De Masi

Good quality paper definitely does make a huge difference.

Amanda Hiteshew

Hi Louise, this was so helpful! I couldn’t understand you though when you mentioned the paper you use for studies like these. My Arches is the best but it’s too expensive to use for this.

Louise De Masi

Hi Amanda, sometimes I'll use Baohong Master's Choice paper. It's a bit cheaper. Sometimes I use Saunders Waterford as well. I also use the back of failed paintings that I did on Arches paper.

stephanie jans-Brantner

Hi Louise! Just starting to learn watercolor. When I do this exercise my circles end up looking blotchy. When I do a soft spread along the edge it becomes blotchy. What am I doing wrong?

Louise De Masi

Hi Stephanie, It could be a number of things. It might be the paper you are using. If it's not 100% cotton that could be why. It could be the brush you are using is too small and the paint starts to dry before you get the area painted in. It might be that your paint doesn't have enough water mixed into it. Have you watched the wet on dry and wet on wet technique videos?

Tom and Betty Abernathy

I'm so glad I found you. I am new to water color, but I love the detail! You are an excellent teacher, and I find your "bloopers" quite funny as well! Thanks

Toni South

This is such a helpful video!! You are a great teacher!! So glad someone recommended you

Sue

What a wonderful lesson! I will be practicing and practicing! And thank you for adding your bloopers at the end, I really needed the giggle!!!

Maria Martinez

I have learned so much from this tutorial. You are so thorough. I love it. What was the name of that paint brush that you used at the end to lift up paint?

Ellen Callaway

Awesome video. Nice touch ending with the bloopers.

Karen

Hi Louise. I havn't painted for a long time, so thought I would get back in to it with some of your exercises. I have relearnt so much from this tutorial, especially the paint to water ratio. The Baohong paper that you are using is that Masters choice or the pad with the green cover, 100% cotton.

Karen

Can I ask where you get it from please

Louise De Masi

I bought it online from Parker's Fine Art Supplies in Sydney.

Bev Witts

I absolutely loved this tutorial…but your bloopers are priceless! 😄

Hyacinth Steele

Hi Louise I loved the lemon tutorial. Thank you! I did struggle with the purple and transparent yellow shadow mix as I don't have Winsor violet. I used Cobalt violet and it ended up orange. I've ordered Winsor violet from Jackson's Art and your new brush set too! Hope you are recovering well. H. :)

Laura Etheridge

Thanks Louise , this will be so useful for me. This is one of my nemesis !

laura frisbie

Thank you, I enjoyed getting a deeper grasp on the various considerations, approaches, and results.

Gale McKiddy

Thanks! This was extremely helpful!

Anne Marie Reynolds

Thank You, I'm learning a lot. Loved the bloopers at the end.

Joyce Wicks

All these wonderful techniques are so important and will help us become better and more confident artists. Thank you for making this journey possible.

Lynn Sloan

Thank you on behalf all of us newbies. It's so hard to learn when to "mess with it" and when to let it dry and then mess with it! 😂I also really appreciate that you use a cloth instead of paper towels to dab your brush. I've been watching watercolor videos for a while and you're the first I saw do this. I immediately ran and grabbed a cloth - duh!

Louise De Masi

Thanks Lynn 😅. I use old bathroom towels that have seen better days. I've got plenty of them.

Linda

Thanks, Louise. Some days I ‘get’ it and some days I don’t but these exercises are excellent for practise. 👏🏻🎨🌹

Marilyn Franks

Oh my gosh! I learned SO much with this video! I am going to have to practice this over and over. I've been painting in primarily wet on dry and have a long way to go to master the wet into wet techniques. You are such a wonderful teacher.

Colleen Garnette

As I practiced along with this video, I was very humbled. You are an excellent instructor, and you break things down to the basics. Practicing these exercises frequently (in my case, anyway) will go a long way in improving my attempts at watercolor painting. Wish I had taken up this hobby before I became a senior citizen. lol Thank you for your excellent instruction.

Delores Pumphrey

This was an excellent tutorial. Hopefully this will help me with the feather painting of wet on dry. I had been practicing and practicing to not get a hard edge where the two colors meet without success. We are in our summer time of year with selling veggies we grow at our country stand. When it came a time when my husband did not need me as much with the planting, i thought i would be able to tackle that feather. However, I came down with a horrible case of covid. I have al my shots and boosters but that did not protect me from the severity of covid. However, I am finally much, much better and jumped right back into watercolor. I saw this wonderful tutorial and thought this is what I need. I draw about 5 feathers on my paper and go at it. You explain everything so easily and make it look so easy. I love watching you paint and listening to what you have to teach. My brain understands but the paint, water and brush just do not quite get it yet. I am going to try Example 4, as I do paint sort of slow. I will work on the feather but then I will practice painting your hardest circle. I think this tutorial of the different ways was very informative.

Louise De Masi

I'm sorry it hit you hard Delores but I'm glad you are well again now. Thank you! Keep trying with it, have patience with yourself and your persistence will pay off.

Cheryl L Corgan

I just joined up the other day. I have always loved your aesthetic ! I've been painting for a while and am still learning ! I appreciate the basics and I have learned new techniques already from this video ! I am not the best at blending and your lesson gives me the tools to work on it. I am excited !

Frederike Diehr

Hi, thanks for the great Video Tutorials. I'm from Germany but can easyly follow along. As an absolut beginner I started watching your beginner Tutorials to get all the basics I need. I'm struggelig with the blending using some Colors rattert then other ones. Ido never get a nice transition using frensh Ultramarin with maybe alizarin crimson. But can easyly get one using alizarin with preussian blue. Is it because of the gratulation of the Ultramarin ? When I put the Colors to the Paper they look nicely blendet, but when drey they create heard egdges. Thanks and many greetings from Germany. Frederike By the way, you told about quickly dreying of your Paper during the Summer. Is there a Tip to prevent your Paper from dreying out so fast?

Mary C Shade

Hello Louise, I just joined today and have been trying to navigate my way around your site. I was wondering is there a video/lesson I should start with? I have some experience with watercolour and am having a hard time figuring out which one of your videos I should begin with. Any suggestions?

Louise De Masi

Hi Frederike, I'm not sure why you would be struggling with blending with two different blues. I don't think the granulation of French Ultramarine would effect the way it blends. The granulation causes the heavier pigment to settle in the valleys of the paper - perhaps it's the look of the granulation that bothers you. I'm making a tutorial where I talk about dark edges and how you can prevent them and also fix them if they occur. That should be available in a few weeks. If your paper is drying quickly in the summer try wetting it twice. Wet it and wait until the water soaks in and then wet it again while it's slightly damp and then try painting. It may help. Thanks!

Louise De Masi

I'll send you a message Mary with links and a few suggestions on it.

Louise De Masi

I sent you a message with some links on it Alyssa. Welcome! 💕

Carol Factor

Hi Louise. Did you say what brush you're using in this tutorial? Thank you!!

Louise De Masi

Hi Carol, my Da Vinci Maestros series 35. I think this one is a #7.

Bonita

Hi Louise!! I'm also new to your site & have been picking & choosing your be beginner tutorials based on what I

Bonita

Oops .... I too would appreciate suggestions on which ones to start with . Thanks so much!!!

Louise De Masi

I sent you a message Bonita with a few suggestions. I'll make a post here on Patreon about this with links as soon as I can that will be helpful for beginners.

Bonita

I received your email & have already completed part 1 of the drag fly tutorial. I really appreciate your suggestions & guidance to get started. Your paintings are wonderful and so inspiring! Thanks so much!!

Sharon Buchanan

I'm new and I love these videos I have been watching! You are such a good teacher Louise. I appreciate your techniques and ability to share like you do !!! Thank you so much

Karen Herndon

How do I download this to watch later?

Louise De Masi

Hi Karen, you can't download the videos. This one is available on my YouTube channel so you will be able to watch it there.

Joyce A Stevens

Louise, may I ask why you did not make the center a bit more orange as in the image?

Joyce A Stevens

By the way, I love when you show your out-takes.

Louise De Masi

Hi Joyce, I could have but it was a quick demonstration for beginners and I was trying to keep it simple. These days I don't follow the reference photo exactly as I see it. I try to capture the essence of whatever it is I'm painting. It's not necessary to include everything.

Joyce A Stevens

Thanks. I thought that was what you were doing. I need to loosen up a bit as I try to capture every little detail knowing I cannot do that in watercolor.

Derina O'Connor

Hi Louise, this is a really helpful tutorial thank you. May I ask is there a particular reason you painted the lemons shadow wet on dry. Also when painting the darker area near the top of the 2nd lemon (rhs) , you wet just that area I think. .. how can one tell when its ok to wet just an area of a painting that's dried and not the whole thing... probably a silly question.... Thank you

Louise De Masi

Hi Derina, the cast shadows that the lemons make have hard edges so I thought I'd paint them on the dry paper. If I wanted a soft outer edge on that shadow I would have wet the paper first. I had a quick look on the second lemon and I couldn't see the part you are talking about. If you could tell me the time on the video of the part you are asking about I can have a better look. If I am re-wetting a dry layer to paint another layer over the top I can stop the water in a light area. I usually don't get any water lines if I do that. If I've got a mid value layer of paint all over a particular area that I am painting on I will usually take the water all the way to the edges of that section to avoid water lines.